Reaching Your World with Luis Palau

When I first felt God’s prompting to become a preaching evangelist, I resisted thoroughly. I couldn’t believe God would want to use me in that way. It seemed absurd. As I read the Bible and studied the life of Moses right in this season of agonizing, I was confronted with the part of the story we would rather forget: God threatened to end Moses’ life. While there’s a lot to unpack, that story had a significant effect on my story. It completely changed my story of obedience to my calling as an evangelist. And, it should influence all of us to yield our lives to the Lord our God, our maker and creator. The Lord’s authority over all of us is clear. What’s more, He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith. So, each one of us needs to allow Him to lead us in the way He desires. He is in charge. Not me. Not you. It took time, but I began changing my mindset. I started telling God, “You open doors. You shut them. I will be obedient.” And - no big surprise - He did exactly that. And He continues to do it. Today, I joyfully accept God’s calling on my life. I have had the privilege of proclaiming His Good News to millions of people around the world, and if God can use me, He can use anyone. Imagine what God would love to do--through you! This is Andrew Palau.

As Christians, we need to plant our roots deeply into the local church. But how? First, make a commitment to your local church. Second, speak well of your church. Third, seek to serve and minister within your local church. Ask what you can contribute to the Body of Christ through your personal involvement. Remember, "to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good," 1 Corinthians 12:7. It isn't enough to know we have spiritual gifts—we are to use them. Beware of the mind-set that looks to see if the church will meet your needs. Since when is the church a country club where you pay your dues until you find something more exciting to do? Instead, the attitude that should characterize us as Christians is love—a love that gives and serves. The Lord Jesus said, "All men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another," John 13:35. When you get ready for church, take any expectations about what you want to get and leave them home with your dog or cat. After all you and I are there at church not to get – although we do get a lot - but to give.Consequently, everything you receive will be a blessing. This is Luis Palau.

As Christians, we need to plant our roots deeply into the local church. But how? First, make a commitment to your local church. Second, speak well of your church. Even though it has faults, obey 1 Corinthians 1:10. It says don't allow yourself to develop a critical spirit. Your church is your spiritual "family" in Christ. Defend it! When others grumble about it, remind them to take the matter to the elders, not to the rest of the congregation. It is important that parents learn to speak well of "our" church. Let your children hear you talking about "our" pastor, "our" elders, "our" deacons, "our" Sunday school, "our" church retreat. This will help them claim the church as their own as they grow older. My wife Pat and I have seen the fruitful results in our four sons’ lives. Also, speak well of your church by inviting others to attend with you. A church historian once found the average person in a particular denomination invited others to church once every 28 years. Surely we can do better than that! What’s more, be sure to invite missionaries over for dinner in your home. They’ll be blessed, sure, but you’ll be blessed even more. And so will your children. This is Luis Palau.

As Christians, we need to plant our roots deeply into the local church. But how? First, make a commitment to your local church. My wife Pat and I are active members of a local church in Portland, Oregon. For decades we traveled to minister at evangelistic festivals and conferences and colleges and churches throughout the United States and in over 75 nations around the world. Then again, we were never excused from taking an active part in our home church and remaining in subjection to the elders. For many years we felt it was important to consult with them on major decisions involving our family and ministry. My advice, based on God’s Word, to every Christian is the same: Attend church regularly. Follow the prescribed procedures to become a member. Observe the Lord's Supper and follow Him in baptism. Inform the church leaders that your desire is to become an active member and serve under the leaders’ bibilical authority. What are your options? If you remain shallow in your relationship to your local church, you will lose out on the support of other Christians when you need it most. So, don’t delay. Start planting your roots deeply into a good, solid, loving, Christ-honoring, Bible-preaching local church. This is Luis Palau.

How essential is the local church in developing strong, godly individuals, couples, and families? One man told me the church definitely takes second or third place in his list of priorities. "Family has to come first," he said. So, he and his family don't attend church regularly any more. Maybe if you have money, health, and a busy schedule, you don't feel the need to fellowship with other Christians. But when the storms of life hit—and they will—suddenly you'll find nobody's there. If you remain shallow in your relationship with the members of your local church, you will lose out on the support of other Christians when you need it most. By neglecting to minister within your local church, you also cause other Christians to lose something. The Lord Jesus Himself says in John 15 that He is the Vine, and we are connected to Him as branches. As a result, through Jesus, we are connected to each other. In Colossians chapter 1 we read, “…in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church.” I urge you, plant your roots deeply into a good, solid, Christ-honoring, Bible-preaching local church. This is Luis Palau.

A few years ago, I wrote a book called The Secret Life of a Fool. The book is my story – my testimony – and how God changed me. During the writing process, I sometimes wondered, “Is my story really that important?” And time and time again, I was reminded that yes, my story is important not because of me, but because it shows the power in what God can do. As you listen to this radio program today, I want to remind you that your story is important, too. God wants to use your story to change people’s lives. So all you have to do is tell it. Psalm 107:2 in the Bible says, “Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story, those he redeemed from the hand of the foe.” This is your personal testimony. Nobody can argue with what God has done in your life, so have courage. Be bold! In Romans 15:18 Paul says, "I will not venture to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me in leading the Gentiles to obey God by what I have said and what I have done." Are there people in your life wjp have yet to hear the Good News? You be the one to tell them. Share your story with the people in your life today. Your story just might change somebody’s life for all of eternity. This is Andrew Palau.  

Throughout the years, many people have asked me, “Luis, how did your evangelism start?” My answer is always the same. “It started with love.” First, with God’s love. The Bible says in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” As I began to understand God’s love for me I began to feel a growing love for others. And this love for others is what drives me to share the Good News with them. I want everyone to hear about Jesus; I want everyone to experience eternal life now on earth, and spend eternity in Heaven. The Bible says in Galatians 5:22, “…the fruit of the spirit is love…” and in Galatians 5:14, “For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. Think about how much God loves you. He sent His only Son to die on the cross for you. His love isn’t something you have to earn, and it’s not something that will ever go away, no matter how many times you may fall short. Now, consider showing others this same love. Selfless, grace-filled, with their best intentions at heart. One way you can show your love to others is by sharing the Good News with them. So do this, won’t you? This is Luis Palau.

A godly man named Jacob is the pastor of a church in a very wealthy area. For many years, Jacob and his family lived in one of the town’s nicest neighborhoods to be near the church he pastored. Now, Jacob didn’t own a fancy home in this area – but when his children were in school, he and his wife built a tree fort in their yard. As Jacob’s kids grew older, their kids’ friends always came over to the pastors house, to hang out in the tree fort and enjoy Jacob’s wife’s cookies. Even though many of the children had large sprawling homes, Jacob’s house was always the gathering place. I love this story, because it reminds me that what you have is not what matters; it’s how you use what you have to glorify God. Jacob had a modest home. But, he and his wife showed kindness and hospitality to their children’s friends—and it made an impact in that community. Consider how you can use what you have to glorify God. Hebrews 13:1-2 in the Bible says, “Let brotherly love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers…” so do just that! Open your home, your heart, or at least start a conversation about Jesus with someone near you. This is Luis Palau.

Our world is increasingly cluttered and noisy, and in a hurry. This is never more apparent than when I’m in a big city, like New York or Buenos Aires. Loud music, big billboards, colorful ads on city buses and taxis. It can be hard to know where we should be focusing. And sometimes, our own lives work the same way. There’s so much going on in our jobs, or at school, or within our families, that we can forget to focus on the most significant thing of all: our walk with Jesus Christ. I once heard a pastor say, “Don’t replace the significant with the urgent.” In other words, don’t waste all of your time on things that don’t have eternal meaning; make sure you’re putting effort into growing in your faith, and helping others come to know Jesus, too. This week, make it your mission to focus on the “significant” – that is, Jesus Christ. Spend time diving into God’s word, attend a Bible study at your church, or just spend five minutes in prayer. Then, look around for people to share your faith with! Mark 16:15 says, “And He said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the Good News Gospel to the whole creation”. So go! Do something significant to reach your world. This is Luis Palau.

You know, I think many of us forget that eventually, our time here on earth will end. When we believe in Jesus Christ and have received Him into our hearts, this is not a frightful thing because we know we get to spend eternity with Him. But, it is still important to consider what kind of legacy we’re leaving behind. My longtime mentor, Billy Graham, once said, “The greatest legacy one can pass on to one’s children and grandchildren is not money or other material things accumulated in one’s life, but rather a legacy of character and faith.” And I completely agree. So, as you listen to this radio program, consider—what kind of legacy are you creating? What will you leave behind? The Bible says in Psalm 112:1-2, “Praise the Lord! Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who greatly delights in His commandments. His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house, and their righteousness endures forever.” This week, practice building your legacy by talking to your children, siblings, or even parents about Jesus. Share your faith in a way that is honest and relatable. A legacy of faith will bless generations to come. This is Luis Palau.

Throughout his life, the genius Albert Einstein changed religious labels more than once. Two of the most prominent labels he wore were “atheist” and “deist.” It turns out that labels aren’t always bad. They’re often good. They’re only bad if we don’t check what’s inside first—or if we willfully mislabel someone. All of us have had the experience of being mislabeled, sometimes maliciously, by others. Just as sad, I’ve talked with men and women who have mislabeled themselves. If someone tells me she is a “former Christian” and an “atheist,” that may mean that she no longer believes in God or His existence. Then again, it may mean that she feels Jesus walked out of her life, let her get terribly hurt, and she’s so angry she thinks she’ll never forgive Him. In any case, “former Christian” and “atheist” don’t tell me anything negative about her. It tells me only that I want to hear her story. If you told your story to me, what labels would you use to describe your religious convictions or lack thereof? What do those labels mean to you? And, what should they mean to me? God always sees past our mislabeling. He stands ready, with arms open wide. Today is the best day to come back home. This is Andrew Palau.

Did you know a real Christian is someone who has been born into God's family and therefore has become one of God's children? You say, "Luis, I thought everyone was a child of God. Isn't God the Father of all humanity?" According to the Bible, God is the Creator of all men and women but He is not the Father of each one. Many people don't even want Him to be their Father. You become a member of God's family by being born into it. The Lord Jesus said, "Unless a man is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God," John 3:3. What does that mean? When you and I were born into the human family, we had no choice about the matter. That's physical birth. But to become a child of the heavenly Father you must have a spiritual birth. This happens when we apologize to God for our sins and misbehavior and put our faith and trust in Jesus Christ. Every year we celebrate our physical birth with cards and gifts. But do you remember your second birth? If not, you must make a life-changing decision. Why wait? Learn how at www/hopewithgod.com. This is Luis Palau.

Did you know that a real Christian enjoys eternal life? In John 10:10 Jesus Christ said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." It’s the way God designed us to live here and now, and forever. Do you have eternal life? You might be thinking, "Well, I'm not sure." Suppose I asked if you are married. Would you say, "I think so"? Or suppose I asked if you are pregnant. Would you say, "A little bit"? Of course not. You can be absolutely sure about such things. And it is just as possible for you to be certain that you are a Christian and have eternal life. Talking about those who follow Him in faith, Jesus said: "I give them eternal life and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand," John 10:28. Do you have that triple security? First He says, "I give them eternal life." A gift! Second He says, "They shall never perish." Third, "No one can snatch them out of my hand." What more could you want? Why wait? Discover how you can specifically receive eternal life today. Go to www.hopewithgod.com. This is Luis Palau.

Maybe you were raised in a Catholic or Protestant home. Or maybe you were brought up in some other religion. No matter what your background, I encourage you to take an honest look at what God's Word, the Bible, says makes someone a real Christian. FIRST, the Bible says that a Christian is someone who walks in the way of life in contrast to the way of death. And that way is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Jesus Christ said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." That’s found in John 14:6. Notice that Jesus does not say He will show you the way. He says, "I am the way!" Jesus also spoke of a narrow road and a wide road. Many walk on that wide road, which in the end is the way of death [Matthew 7:13]. Do you sometimes feel as though you are lost and don't know where you are going? When you become a Christian, you have found the way of life in Jesus Christ. It’s an amazing way, here on earth and eternally in heaven. Find it today, for your own good and sheer pleasure. It’s a way of peace and purity. It’s a way of love and life abundant and free. Don’t delay! Find out more at www.hopewithgod.com.  This is Luis Palau.

Did you know the United States is the most religious of all Western nations? That's the latest word from the Gallup poll. But what Gallup, Inc. didn't explore is the question, “What does it take to make someone a real Christian?” Suppose you conducted your own opinion poll and asked five people to answer that question. Likely, you would get five answers! I'm convinced most people are confused about this crucial issue. While I grew up attending church, and learned all the songs and Bible stories, for several years I wasn't a real Christian. Oh, if someone asked, I could stand up and quote Bible verses. I could say a prayer. But I was only going through a lot of sincere but empty religious motions. That is, until someone helped me settle the question of whether I was a real Christian. God wants each of us to know where we stand in His eyes. That's why I believe it’s not mere chance that you’re pondering the question, "Am I a real Christian?" You can know for sure. Go to www.hopewithgod.com. This is Luis Palau.